Improvement in snap-hooks



B. A. LE WIS. Snap-Hook.

No. 222,635. Patented Dec.-16, I879.

wmvass s mysmon W 3mm; v9 gram WM/5@%%M/ wm fiwl wfl ATTORNEY BURDETTE A. LEWIS, OF PLAINVILLE, ASSIGNOR TO FREDERICK BRAINARD,

' OF FORESTVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN SNAP-HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 222635, dated December 16, 1879; application filed July 30, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonnn'rrn A. Lnwrs, of

. Plainville, in the county of Hartford and State marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to snap-hooks for attaching hitching-straps to rings, and for other purposes.

The said invention consists, mainly, in the construction of a snaphook having a rigid tongue-piece secured to a flat spring and extending from an opening in the hollow shank to the point of the hook and engaging with the latter;

It also consists in a snap -hook having a rigid tongue-piece provided with a roughened lug and arranged and combined with the other parts of the device, as above stated.

It also consists in certain improvements, hereinafter more particularly set forth, in the hollow shank, rigid tongue-piece, and spring, arranged and combined as described.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front perspective view of my improved snap-hook. Fig. 2 represents a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a detail view of the spring and catch or tongue do tached; and Fig. 4 represents a view of the hook without the spring and catch or tongue.

In said drawings, A designates the loop for attaching to the hitching-strap B, the shank of the same, and C the curved terminal part or hook proper, terminating in a tapering backward-extendinginwardly-beveledtip,0. These parts A, B, and C are all in one piece. The shank B is made hollow, having a deep longitudinal channel, B, extending inward from its back; This channel isso deep as to leave only the vertical side walls, I) 1), running the whole length of said shank, and the front wall,

1), extending from the loop A about half the length thereof. The channel 13' is extended at its rear end into the eye A, and at its front end through. the base of the curved part C, so as to communicate with the space within the hook proper. The forward part of the front of the shank B is removed at 1) beyond front wall, 11, so as to leave shoulders or angles'D D on the forward front corners of side walls, I) b. The space between said shoulders exactly faces the tip 0 of curved part C.

E designates a flat spring, which is set into channel B fromthe back of the hook. Its rear end is detachably but firmly secured (preferably by a screw, (2) to plate or front wall, b,

at apoint near eye A. The said springextends along said channel and through the forward end of it to a point touching the inner part of the beveled tip 0. This is the normal position of said spring, and when pressed inward from said position it tends to regain it. The said spring cannot fly forward beyond said position because front wall, b, and beveled tip 0 prevent such motion. Said front wall, I), and the side walls, I), guide and brace the spring. They also protect it from injury.

- F designates the catch or tongue, which is rigidly secured to the front of spring E, and

which consists of a block, f, and a tapering extension, f The said block f works through opening I) and between shoulders D D, which brace it. The taperingextension f terminates in a beveled tip, which catches behind tip 0.

The block f is provided'on its front with a square raised lug, G, which is milled,.corrugated, or otherwise roughened, so as to insure the accurate action of the operators thumb in forcing in said catch and its spring for unhitching. This feature is especially serviceable in cold weather, when the hook may be slippery from frost, and the operators thumb stiff or incased in a glove or mitten. This lug G, with its roughened face, forms the most prominent feature of the front of the catch and snap-hook,

and cannot easilybe missed or slipped over without pressure.

The catch and spring, though they may be made detachable, form, when in operation, practically a single piece, having the stiffness of a casting in all that portion which is not prevented from bending forward by the front wall, I). The forward end of this front wall,

arena err-Ion;

b, by its position with regard to the proximate end of tongue or catch F, is an additional protection against any forward movement of said catch beyond the proper point. In fact, the catch is so adapted in size and shape to the adjacent parts D, D, c, and b that it cannot be forced out of engagement with the hook or curved part 0 by either outward or lateral pressure or draft, but only by direct inward pressure. An ythin glike twisting of the ton gue or catch F is also quite out of the question.

The hook is exceedingly simple and light, and, owing to its hollow shank, requires very little material in its construction. The opening in the back throughout its entire length allows ready access to the interior for removing dirt and ice; and as there is only a single fast.

ening for the tongue or catch, and as that'one is easily accessible from the rear of the hook, the removing of the tongue and spring for purposes of repair gives very little trouble.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A snap-hook having a rigid tongue-piece secured to a flat spring and extending from an opening in the hollow shank to the point of the hook and engaging with the latter.

2. A snap-hook having a rigid tongue-piece secured to a flat spring, and provided with a roughened lug, said tongue-piece extending from an opening in the hollow shank to the point of the hook and engaging with the latter.

8. Rigid tongue F and spring E, fastened together in combination with hook (3, having beveled tip 0, and hollow shank B,having front wall, I), and angular shoulders D, said parts 0, D, and b preventing the forward or lateral displacement of said tongue, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BURDETTE A. LE WI S. Witnesses:

WVILLIAM JOHNSTON BLAKESLEE, LUCAS HART CARTER, 2d. 

